Aishath Himna Hassan will represent the Maldives at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships.

The 19-year-old athlete won the opportunity after emerging on top in the recent time trials conducted by the Athletics Association of Maldives.

The 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships, or World Junior Championships, will be held from 17 - 22 August at the Nyayo Sports Complex in Nairobi, Kenya; following its postponement last year.

Himna has already represented the country in various international competitions, including the World Juniors Athletic Championship in Finland, in the year 2018 and in Qatar in the year 2019.

Her first big achievement was in the 2019 South Asian Games held in Nepal, where she competed in the finals of the 400 meters race.

She held the national record for women’s 400m dash in 2018 and 2019, as well as the youth record for the 400m sprint.

While some nations such as United Kingdom, Australia and United States have pulled out of the championship due to Covid-19 fears, Kenyan authorities have announced that the championship will be held behind closed doors with no spectators for the athletes safety.

Organisers plan to introduce two "bubbles" for the World Junior Championships.